Three species have particularly wide ranges and are good choices in most regions: common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), and butterflyweed (A. tuberosa).
Does showy milkweed attract butterflies?
Asclepias speciosa is commonly known as Showy Milkweed and rightly so. … Butterflies find them attractive for nectar and the Monarch caterpillars enjoy munching the leaves. It is a major host plant of the Monarch butterflies in the Western part of the US.
Which milkweed is bad for Monarchs?
This is the reason Tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), an introduced species native to Mexico, is developing a bad reputation among monarch biologists and conservation organizations. It can delay the butterflies’ instinctual fall migration through North Texas to the point of destruction.
Does milkweed come back every year?
It’s always best to plant milkweeds that are native to your area. … These native milkweed are perennials, meaning they come back year after year. Their aerial parts (flower, leaves, stem) die back but their rootstock remains alive throughout the winter.
What milkweed is bad for butterflies?
Tropical milkweed becomes a problem when planted in temperate areas where it does not die back in winter. A protozoan parasite of monarch butterflies, Ophryocystis elektroscirrha or OE for short, can travel with monarchs visiting the plants and become deposited on leaves.
What can I plant with showy milkweed?
- Verbena Bonariensis with Any Milkweed Variety. …
- Blue Tweedia with Dwarf Butterfly Bush. …
- Purple Salvia with Butterfly Weed. …
- Mistflower with Shorter Milkweed Varieties. …
- Butterfly Weed with Tropical Milkweed. …
- Swamp Milkweed with Swamp Milkweed ‘ice ballet’ …
- Whorled Milkweed with Spider Milkweed.
When can I transplant showy milkweed?
As a general rule the best time to transplant Milkweed plants when temperatures are cooler in Spring. But, Milkweed plants can generally be transplanted as long as they are not blooming or producing seed. Just try to make sure they are smaller offshoots from the mother colony.
How do you identify Showweed milkweed?
Showy Milkweed- Asclepias speciosa
Stem: 45 to 200 cm tall, velvety or pubescent (hairy). Flowers: Pale pink, arranged in umbels. The corona hoods are long (9 to 13 mm) and lance-shaped, making the flowers look like stars. Leaves: Opposite, 10 to 25 cm long, smooth or slightly downy.
Where should I plant milkweed?
When & Where To Plant Milkweed
- Common Milkweed grows well in average garden soil.
- Swamp Milkweed, as its name implies, will do best in a moist environment, making it great for wet meadows or rain gardens.
- Tropical Milkweed performs beautifully in hot, humid conditions, and can be grown as an annual in the north.
What if Monarch caterpillars run out of milkweed?
Butterfly Enthusiasts often run out of milkweed. What to do??? If caterpillars are large, within a few days of pupation, they can be fed alternative food if milkweed can’t be found. … Monarch caterpillars will eat butternut squash and a few other raw vegetables.
Is milkweed poisonous to dogs?
The Pet Poison Helpline reports that milkweed is a moderate to severe poisoning in dogs and cats, which means get to the vet as soon as you suspect your pet has ingested the plant, or even butterflies or caterpillars that eat milkweed.
When should I plant milkweed?
You want to start your seeds as early as possible, probably March, or April at the latest. Get some seed starting mix, moisten it, and think reuse: old egg cartons, various plastic containers that you bought food in, pretty much anything goes! If it doesn’t already have holes in the bottom, make one or two.
How many milkweed plants should I plant?
For gardens, we recommend that you plant about 20-30 milkweed plants per 100 square feet. Milkweed plants should be spaced 1 foot apart, placed in clusters of 3-4 milkweeds.
What part of the milkweed do monarchs eat?
Importance of Milkweed
Monarchs use a variety of milkweeds. Monarch larvae ,or caterpillars, feed exclusively on milkweed leaves.
Is it easy to transplant milkweed?
The truth is, it can be difficult to transplant if you don’t follow some simple guidelines that make the transplant process much less stressful for your moving milkweed plants. Milkweed species like A. … curassavica are easy to transplant because they don’t have a long central taproot growing deep beneath the soil.
Is it hard to transplant milkweed?
It is possible, but not always easy or successful. It is best to transplant milkweed when plant shoots are very small. Milkweed has a deep tap root and if you cut off too much the transplant is less likely to succeed.
Does milkweed spread fast?
Milkweed is one of the Monarch Butterflies’ favorite plants and will bring many winged friends to your garden or meadow. It can be a challenge to grow but once established it will thrive for years to come and spread quickly. Perennial.
Where should you not plant milkweed?
For these reasons, the Xerces Society does not recommend planting milkweed (non-native or native) close to overwintering sites (within 5-10 miles of the coast) in Central and Northern coastal California where it did not occur historically (see State of the Overwintering Sites Report for additional information).
How deep do you plant milkweed?
Seeding can occur between October and June, but should not be completed during the summer months. Once the seed is broadcast, work the seed into the soil to a depth of 1/8th inch. This can be accomplished by flipping over a garden rake and lightly moving the seed and the soil/mulch.
What should I plant next to butterfly bush?
Pair butterfly bushes with Verbena bonariensis, pineapple sage, purple salvia, lantana, swamp milkweed and asters. Some dwarf varieties of butterfly bush can be grown well in containers.
Is butterfly milkweed bad?
“Tropical milkweed itself is not ‘bad. … So to be fair, the scientists admit that much is still to be determined about the impact of Tropical milkweed on the Monarch butterfly population. That’s why they suggest cutting Tropical milkweed to the ground over the fall and winter–so the OE spores can’t build up.
How long do monarchs need milkweed?
After about two months, your milkweed plant will be big enough for caterpillars to eat. Monarch caterpillars are eating machines; each one will each mow through about 20 leaves. So make sure you have enough milkweed plants or the caterpillars will starve!
How often does milkweed bloom?
Flowers occur in round clusters (inflorescence) about two inches in diameter, and bloom from June through August. Fruit: Milkweeds produce large seedpods (3 to 5 inches long) after flowering. Pale green and covered with bumps, the pods eventually turn brown and split open, releasing up to 200 flat, brown seeds.